Sudden Bicep pain after rotator cuff and bicep repair

I hope your bicep is feeling better. It's been 5 days since the initial lightening bolt pain and cramp that set off the pain.  Things seem to have settled down over the past 2 days.  The biceps are still tender but not as irritable. I am feeling more confident to remove the sling during the day and just cradle my arm in pillows at night.  I saw the PT this morning and he did not think I injured the surgery. Tomorrow I see the Dr. He had been away at a conference which explains his not calling back. I am just being careful with how I move . Good luck to you too!

Hang in there!  Glad that you and ricochetred are doing better!  Call the doctor's office tomorrow-speak to a nurse if possible.  If no nurse ask that the doctor gives you a quick call.  My ortho surgeon gave me his direct cell phone number.  I had only used it once the night of the surgery when the saline was gushing out soaking everything.   They forget to warn me about that.  Anyhow back to you rashes?  Spider bites? Did the doctor ace bandage your arm after surgery?  Adhesive irritation?  Hopefully, it is something simple.  Does ice relieve the itch?  Cold compresses?  Hang in there!!  It will get better.  Post again after you find out what is causing the bumps.  

Hi Claudia, What procedures did you have done? Some Drs allow therapy to begin sooner than others and it depends on what you had done. Do you let your therapist know when she is putting you in pain?  Usually the rule is to work in a "relatively" tolerable range of motion. Some PT's have more refined technique then others. I had one PT for my first 2 sessions and a different PT for my third session. I preferred how he handled my shoulder than the first one so asked to be changed to his schedule. I think it's important for therapist to honor patient's pain limits and important for patient to speak up if something feels like too much and tell them you need to be able to have some control. I have a hard time with the door pulleys. I didn't start them till 5 1/2 weeks.  I told my therapist today that I have a hard time with the pulleys and he said all the exercises he gives me just gives me options to do a motion in more than one way. But I already knew that so I don't force myself to do something that really hurts. I don't believe in "no pain no gain." I prefer "no strain, no gain."  I think range of motion can be finessed out of a joint rather than force. In fact, the body does not respond well to force. Gently massage or put pressure into your bicep. try to find a resting position that is comfortable and gradually increase the amount of extension to your comfort level while applying gentle pressure to the bicep to help it relax. It did take about 5 days for my bicep pain to subside. Sometimes a nerve will get stretched or scar tissue disturbed and it causes sorenesss after the session. But communicate with both the therapist and the Dr how you are feeling. I hope you  start to feel better soon.

Ricochetred I go to therapy 3 x a week, two different therapist I don't care too much for the one I have on Mondays I tell her when in pain she just smiles I'm like I guess it supposed to hurt she says nothing. Stupid me I keep going to her thinking well she's the therapist she must know what she's doing. I mean she seems nice and all but she is a bit rough when she's "massaging" my shoulder. I have another session on Thursday with a different therapist I'll find out the days she's in and I'll adjust my schedule to her. As for what I had done it was thought that I had a tear in my rotator cuff at least that's what the MRI indicated but turned out it was calsification which was scraping my tendon that was causing my pain. So he cleared that out. As for my bicep I'm not sure of the name of the procedure can't remember but he said he had to work on the tendon in the bicep. I'm going to play it by ear I'm supposed to hear from the doc today I'll ask him as well. Thanks for the advice much appreciated. Oh one thing the PT told me is that I should take my med before going to therapy being that I was telling her how much it hurts I can't do that because the meds practically puts me to sleep. This is all new to me I've never had to do physical therapy.

In my opinion it's critical to have a PT you trust and are comfortable with. Don't be afraid to go to someone else. Thai is such an important part of recovery you need someone you can work with who is understanding and listens. That being said, in my experience it does hurt. I've cried during sessions, it's normal for many and part of the recovery. I'm usually in pain for a day after but it is helping me gain strength and ROM back. Good luck and hope you find a therapist you are comfortable with!

Hi, sorry to hear you are having issues....but I totally get it.  I am now 3 mths post.  The pain was really bad too...but once I started physio it got alot better.  I have had other issues, reaction to the tape, unexpected lumps that NO one could tell me what they were.  I just decided that my body went "WTF" just happened and reacted...lol

At least I gave myself an answer.  They all went away within 3 weeks. 

Have you started physio?

Hi Stephanie, Things have gotten better. I think the more I used it gently, the better it got. The PT has helped...what little I get of it. The biceps is still the problem child, hurts after activity, exercises, end of day, middle of night...just below the shoulder where the tendon runs. I use cold packs. I am still hiking and have started very short easy road bike rides (sore afterward). The PT says I'm doing well and don't see the Dr for 3 more weeks. . How have you been doing over the past few weeks?

I am not surprised you are in pain. Your initial recovery seems rushed. Out of sling within a few days, doing strengthening exercises so soon!

I very much doubt if you are able to go back to work so soon. 

Some surgeons do not like overuse of sling as it can produce frozen shoulder but even out of a sling you have to be very cautious what you do with your arm. I did not start strengthening exercises until about week 10 and my physio said I was ahead of the game!

As for the pain alternate with ice and heat,that should help. Only other advice is take it easy, your arm is in the early stages of recovery it needs care and rest as well as exercise.

Good luck

Wow riding a bike. What type of bike are you riding?? Glad it's going well for you!

I noticed you work in a supermarket like me I am due back next week a still have pain, I was wondering how you got on as I too am very concerned

sue